Sponge-holder.



PATBNTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

n. L. RIPE. sPoNGB HOLDER.

APPLIOATNN FILED 00T.18. 19 06.

A TTOHNE YS UNITED STATES- pATENT OFFICE.

,URIAH L. RIFE, Ol? SOUND BEACH, CONNECTICUT;

SPONGE-HOLDER.

No. 867,080-,v

.Application lila/d October 18,1906. Serial No. 339.489. n

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24," 1907.

g ing Purposes, of which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in devices for -liolding sponges, cloths,.or other articles,

forming a, part of this specification; in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures, in which v i Figurerl is alp'erspectivie view of the holder with the jaws in the open position; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of thb holder with a sponge 'inserted therein.

In the specific embodiment of my irivelition'which is illustrated in the drawings, the device is composed of two longitudinally slidable members, each having a @jaw for engagement with the material or article to be held, and having means for locking the jaws in-any de sired Position. "1' y i v Oneoi the members 1is provided witha flat face against which the flat face of the second member 2 contacts, and one of the members is provided with means for engaging-with the other member and preventing any movement of one in respect to the other; save a longitudinal 'movement-s Any suitable guides for accomplishing this endV maybe employed, but preferably prevent the separationof the two members but permit-- these guides are in the form of two' or more pins 3 car- -ried by the movable member Zland extending .through'- aslot 4 in the `member 1 and having enlarged heads contacting with theopposite surface oi the member 1 tov ting longitudinal movement of the member 2, the limit 'of said movement being determined by the length .of

.the slot 4. e v

Each o' the members 1 and 2 is provided at its outer end witha ,jaw extendingsubstantially at right angles Cthereto and having-teeth extending toward the oppo. site jaw,- wherebyl a 'sponge or cloth. may be firmly grippedf The jaw4 of the member l is preferably in the `fern-120i 'a piece, of metal 5,. extending across the end of the .member and rigidly secured to the rear side thereof by rivetsG. The length of the jaw will be determined by the size oftheobject which itis desired to hold, and

' the size ofthe teeth 7 will be determined by the nature `of said object. The jaw of the movable member 2 is likewise formed of a piece of metal 8, extending across the end of the movable member Aand rigidly secured to the rear sidethereof. The length of the member 8 is such that the teeth 9 of said member are in alinement with the teeth 7 of the opposite jaw. By moving the member 2 longitudinally of the member .1, the jaws may be; brought as closely together as desired, and the sponge or cloth firmly gripped between the teeth.

For holding the jaws in an adjusted position, I preferably provide the movable member 2 with a` tapering portion 10, leading to a shoulder 12, and surround the member 1 'and the member 2 at the tapered portion by a ring 13 having a diam`eter less than the combined thicknesses of the two m embers at any'point save at the tapered portion, but greater than the combined thicknesses of the two members at the tapered portion adjacent the shoulder12. By inserting a sponge or roll of cloth between the two` jaws and moving Athe member 2v hin res ect to the member 1 until the teeth of bothl jawsi are mly engaged with the object, I adjust theoobject in the desired position. Thering 13 is then moved toward the jaws or up the inclined surface 10 untilLthe ring firmly binds the two members together and prevents any longitudinal movement` of the member 2'. Pressure upon the member 2 in the direction of the ring would merely tendto tight'enthe two partstogether even morevirmly than they were, while the object be`A tween the teeth prevents any longitudinal movement of the jaws,toward each other, which movement would tend to loosen the ring 13. When it is desiredto remove* the"4 sponge orother object from between the jaws,`v the ring 13 is moved backwardto the shoulder 12 and then a further movement of the ring would also draw? back the member 2 until the teeth would be entirely ree f rom the object.4 t"Eitherof the members 1 and 2,3 but 'preferably the fmember 1," is provided with a handle 11i of any suitable form or'size and-of a length suited to the purposes for which the holder is to be employed. In the particular form shown the members yl and 2 are of Wood, although `it is evident that metal or any other suitable material may be efmployedf and desire to efecu're by Letters Patent:

1. In cbmbination, 'a longitudinal member, a handle selcured to one end thenegf, :i jaw carried b'y the opposite end thereof, a second member vcarried by said iii-st mentloned member and longitudinally adjustable in relation thereto,- i a jaw carried by said second member and adapted'to co-act with the flrs't mentioned jaw, one of said members being,

cut awyrto foi-m a tapered portion, and a ring surround- Having thus described my invention, I claim as newlng said members at said cutaway portion, whereby the A two members may be locked in their adjusted position by the longitudinal movement of said ring.

1 2. In combination, a longitudinal member, a handle carried thereby, avjaw carried by 4one end thereof, a second member carried by said first mentioned member and longitudinally adjustable in relation thereto, :1 jaw carried by said second member and adapted to conct with the first mentioned jaw, one of said members having the surface oppositely disposed to Athe other member tapered away from said jaws, :1nd means surroundim,r said members nl 10 said tapered portion. whereby the two members muy be locked in their adjusted position. 1'

in testimony whereof I have signed my nume to this specification in the presence of two subsvriblng witnesses.

URIAH i.. RIFE. Witnesses FRANK i. lAmluu. VALuN'riNm F. Fr'rzJoHN. 

